2006 CHEVROLET OPTRA 5 ignition

Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transaxle)
Your automatic transaxle vehicle has an automatic
transaxle shift lock control system which locks the shift
lever in PARK (P) when the ignition is in LOCK. You
have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is turned to
ON. SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation on page 2-20.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P) while holding the
brake pedal down, try this:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition off and remove the key.
3. Pry off the cover over the shift-lock release slot
using a small, flat object. The shift-lock release
slot is located at the top of the shift lever.4. Insert the key into the
shift-lock release slot
and press and hold
the key.
5. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
6. Remove the key from the shift-lock release slot,
insert the key into the ignition and start the
engine.
7. Replace the shift-lock release slot cover.
8. Apply and hold the regular brake fully and release
the parking brake.
9. Shift to the gear you want.
10. Have the system fixed as soon as you can.
2-28

Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle)
Before leaving your vehicle, do the following:
1. Hold the brake pedal down and firmly apply the
parking brake.
2. Fully press in the clutch pedal and place the shift
lever into the gear position as stated below:
•When parking on level ground, place the shift
lever into NEUTRAL.
•When parking downhill, place the shift lever in
REVERSE (R).
•When parking uphill, place the shift lever in
FIRST (1).
3. After shifting, turn the ignition to LOCK, remove the
key and release the clutch.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other
things that can burn.
2-29

Outside Power Mirrors
Your vehicle may have outside power mirrors. The control
for the power mirrors is located on the driver’s side
door trim.
Move the outside power mirror control to L for the left
mirror and to R for the right mirror. If you place the control
in the center position, no movement of the mirror will
occur. To adjust a mirror, press the corresponding edges
located on the four-way control pad to move the mirror in
the direction that you want it to go. The ignition must be
turned to ON to adjust the mirrors.The outside rearview mirrors can be folded flat against
the side of the vehicle by pushing them toward the
vehicle.
Outside Convex Mirror
{CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
The passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex mirror’s
surface is curved so more can be seen from the driver’s
seat. It also makes things, like other vehicles, look farther
away than they really are.
2-33

Sunroof
If the vehicle has this feature, the switch is located
between the map lamp buttons. The sunroof will only
operate when the ignition is turned to ON. The sunroof
can be opened to a vent position or it can be
express-opened all of the way.
The sunroof must be manually opened or closed.
To open the sunroof to the vent position, push the front
part of the switch. To return the sunroof to its original
position, push the rear part of the switch and hold it until
the sunroof reaches the desired position.To fully open the sunroof, push the rear part of the
switch. The sunroof will open automatically until the front
or the rear part of the switch is pushed again. To
close the sunroof, push the front part of the switch and
hold it until the sunroof is closed. The sunroof will
stop if the switch is released during operation.
In both the vent and fully open positions, the air flow
can be adjusted for driving comfort by pushing and
holding the switch until the sunroof moves to the desired
position.
The sunroof glass panel cannot be opened or closed if
the vehicle has an electrical failure.
2-38

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
The hazard warning
flasher button is located in
the center of the
instrument panel.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key is not in the
ignition switch.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps flash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on your steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
3-8

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and
two downward (for left) positions. These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will flash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever until
the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you complete
your lane change. The lever will return by itself when you
release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows flash
rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and other drivers
will not see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you signal
a turn, check for burned-out bulbs. If the arrow still does
not work, check the fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers
on page 5-82.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam to high
beam, push the turn signal/multifunction lever away
from you.
When the high beams are
on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster
also will be on if the
ignition is turned to ON.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.
3-10

Windshield Wipers
Use this lever located on the right side of the steering
wheel to operate the windshield wipers. The ignition
must be turned to ON to operate the windshield wipers.HI (High Speed):Move the lever to this position for
wiping at high speed.
LO (Low Speed):Move the lever to this position for
steady wiping at low speed.
INT (Intermittent):Move the lever to this position to
choose a delayed wiping cycle. Turn the band on
the windshield wiper lever toward FAST or SLOW for a
shorter or longer delay between wipes. The wiper
speed can only be adjusted when the lever is in the
INT position.
OFF:Move the lever to this position to turn off the
windshield wipers.
3-11

Misting Function
Move the lever toward, but not completely in, the INT
position for a single wiping cycle. Hold it there until the
windshield wipers start; then let go. The windshield
wipers will stop after one wipe. If you want more wipes,
hold the lever toward INT longer.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you
from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them.
If they are frozen to the windshield, carefully loosen or
thaw them. If your blades do become damaged, get
new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, pull the windshield
wiper/washer lever toward you with the ignition turned
to ON.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
When you release the lever, the washers will stop, but
the wipers will continue to wipe for about two or
three cycles and will either stop or will resume at the
speed you were using before.
3-12